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Inga Rhonda King
Inga Rhonda King is the new Vincentian ambassador to the United Nations. (Internet photo)

This country has a new Permanent Representative to the United Nation.

Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced at a press conference on Monday that Curacao born Vincentian, Inga Rhonda King, took up the post effective Sunday, Sept. 1.

King, who is 53 years old, replaces Camillo Gonsalves, son of Prime Minister Gonsalves, whose tour of duty ended on Saturday, after four and half years.

Gonsalves said that King left St. Vincent and the Grenadines for New York on Friday to make preparations with her staff for the meetings of the U.N. General Assembly, which he will attend later this month.

Gonsalves said that King is a Vincentian by descent that grew up in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and have lived in several Caribbean countries, the United States, and China.

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He said that immediately before her appointment as the nation’s U.N. envoy, she was the owner of a business.

Gonsalves further said that King is a strategist, concept designer, management accountant, and financial manager with more than two decades of professional experience.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and chemistry and she has taught maths at the college level and also has taught English as a second language in China.

In 2010, she was appointed the Honorary Consul for Portugal in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

In early 2011, she became chair of Invest SVG, the investment promotion agency of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“As you see, this a woman of many parts,” Gonsalves said.

Gonsalves also announced that Kathy-ann Barnwell will replace Susan Dougan as Cabinet Secretary.

Dougan reached retirement age a year ago but was asked to continue in the post, Gonsalves said earlier this year.

Barnwell is the former Chief Personnel Officer, a post that has been filled by former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Reconciliation, Corrine Gonsalves.

The new Permanent Secretary in that ministry is now Dr. Audrey Gilkes, immediate past Chief Nursing Officer.

No one has been formally appointed Chief Nursing Officer but Peggy Da Silva is in administrative control, Gonsalves said.

The Prime Minister announced that Sis. Ynolde Smart has gone on retirement leave and Sis. Grace Walters is in administrative control as Hospital Administrator.

Dr. Simone Keizer has been appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO), a post in which Dr. Sherian Slater had been acting, after the former CMO, Dr. St. Clair Thomas reached retirement age one year ago.

Keizer was Medical Director of the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, a post being filled by Dr. Charles Woods.

Gonsalves further noted that Invest SVG has a new Chief Executive Officer — Bernadette Ambrose-Black.

He said that Dr. Jeol Warrican is to return to the University of the West Indies and there has to be a new Director of the Community College.

A person is filling the position in the interim, as the College searches for a replacement.

Gonsalves thanked Ambassador Gonsalves for his service at the United Nations, saying that reports, locally, regionally, and internationally are that the envoy did “an excellent job”.

He said the diplomat is now is SVG settling down “before, I suspect, he gets another appointment”.

It is widely believed that the former envoy will be appointed a senator and Minister of Foreign Affairs, later this month, replacing former senator and foreign secretary, Dr. Douglas Slater, who is taking up a post at CARICOM.

The Prime Minister also praised the work of the other persons who were being transferred or are retiring.

The announcement on Monday did not include the three Government senators that Gonsalves said would have been named by the end of August.

Former senators Douglas Slater, Elvis Charles and David Browne are being replaced.

The new senators are expected to be announced sometime before Parliament meets on Sept. 19.

10 replies on “PM Gonsalves announces new UN envoy, other senior appointments”

  1. When I was a youth, one of the games I looked forward to mostly, at our church social gatherings , was MUSICAL CHAIRS.

  2. I think there are some very important appointments.. I believe that Dr. Keizer will make a very good Chief Medical Officer and Bernadette Ambrose-Black Will do well at Invest SVG same for Ms Barnwell as Cabinet Secretary and Ms Gonsalves as CPO… and finally, Mrs. Gilkes will help to reconcile us all!!!

  3. Wilmoth Aberdeen says:

    You mean to tell me that P.M. Gonsalves could not find a real Vincentian born Citizen (in 2013), to fill the post of Foreign Minister, or United Nations Ambassador ? What a shame !

  4. It’s backward attitudes like some displayed on this site that really befuddle me. The woman is a Vincentian. When Roy Austin, a born and bred Vincentian was appointed US Ambassador to T&T did Americans complain? Were Vincentians not proud? The US has hundreds of millions of people. They could have chosen a born and bred American to represent them. St. Vincent has about 100,000 people. A lot of our talent has fled, for various reasons including because of some of the backward attitudes as displayed on this site. We have to keep what we have and try to reclaim what we have already lost. Ms. KIng’s parents are born Vincentians. She has claimed St. Vincent as her country. That should be enough. Please find a more substantive reason to criticize her appointment. Jeez.

  5. It will be interesting at some time to compare the salary, expenses and other emollients, between this lady and Camillo.

  6. I am not sure of the relationship between Ms. Gonsalves and the Prime Minister if there is any family relationship at all. However, these distinguish ladies have served the Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for many ways in an efficient manner. I am not of the view that nepotism has played or is playing any role in these appointments, but hard work, continuous sacrifice and discipline on the part of these public servants.

    I want to once again wish them continued success as we have noticed that they have been recognized and rewarded for their efforts.

  7. All I have to say, if that is a recent picture of Ms King…then damnnnn….she looks great for 53…I am just saying.

    As for these appointments….it is what it is…political appointments are fraught with favoritism and political allegiance…and not necessarily about qualifications…although you not going to select some dumbar$e to fill the respective positions.

    The Gonsalves Administration have the right to appoint whoever they please….I am not second guessing these appointments… but when they f’ck up, then you lambaste the Administration for their choice, that’s politics for you.

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